Closing her heart a long time ago, Grace Clark made a promise she’s vowed to keep. Having Hollywood heartthrob Evan Matthews move in next door with his alluring good looks, charisma, wit, and sexy smile is a temptation that runs the risk of compromising the importance of that promise.

Evan is drawn to his new neighbor. Grace is the exact opposite of the women he normally encounters. Enticing, down-to-earth, and confident, she captivates him. She has no problems facing off with Evan, and he soon realizes Grace is much more than just a challenge. He wants to prove himself to her.

Grace can see the man beyond the actor, and with more than just her pride at stake, she needs to hold tight to her promise before Evan breaks through all her walls, exposing her heart.

Anissa Garcia resides in Austin, Texas and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications and English. She held an array of jobs including Public Relations Manager for Barnes and Noble. Wanting a change of pace, she moved to Los Angeles where she attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and trained full-time in theatre. After working in Hollywood, she returned to Texas where she has written articles for Cosmopolitan and Lady Couture. When not writing stories, watching movies, or drinking a latte, she loves to daydream about romantic fictional men.

A Promise Kept is your typical book about an average girl meeting a Hollywood star and the fairytale romance that comes along with it. This is a story about how one woman learned to accept the past, face her fears and take a chance on a most unlikely love.

Grace is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her brother as a teen, It has affected her entire adult life and left her in a state of suspension, unable to move on. The night that she lost him, her heart was forever torn and her family shattered. Since then, the only person she could depend upon was herself, and she wasn't allowing anyone to make her exposed and weak ever again. Grace was a heroine who was very stubborn and quick to dismiss any flirtations-even from hot heartthrob Evan Matthews. She's not impressed with his fame or practiced lines and I admired that about her. She wasn't falling all over herself based on his looks or other superficial reasons.

Even is immediately charmed and intrigued by her refusals to go out with him and it only makes him twice as determined to change her mind. At first, he's simply looking for a fun diversion and the rare challenge of the chase. But it doesn't take long for him to see that she is a woman that make him re-think everything he thought he wanted out of life. She was completely unexpected.

He had no idea when he had met this woman what he was in for, but now that he was jumping in, there was no way he could jump out. He wanted her, desperately, and with a hunger that ran far beyond anything he'd ever felt.

That had the conflicts you would come to expect with their situation. She's cautious due to his history with women in the past, his traveling lifestyle and the polar opposite worlds they exist in. Evan has a lot of work to do to convince her that he's serious and genuine in his interest for her. Will she put her trust in him and take the leap of faith that what they have is a chance at forever?

I thought this was a pleasant read, however my only criticisms being that I think Grace was a tad too stubborn and unwilling to let go of the past. She was forced into facing her fears and instead of seeing her grow into her own confidence, she reacted immaturely and avoided confronting her issues. As well, the resolution to the big conflict at the end was too rushed for my taste. The way she forgave him was anticlimactic, but that may just be me.

Overall, it was a decent debut book with lots of enjoyable sexual tension and sweet moments. Grace led Evan on quite the chase and I can't fault him for a thing. He was very supportive and patient with her, waiting until she was ready and showing her in his perseverance how much she meant to him. The supporting characters were well developed, I wouldn't mind reading about one of Evan or Grace's friends' stories in the future. I'll be keeping my eyes open for any future books.